BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13894, 21 October 1918, Page 2

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

VISST TO WERflROfi. The Board of paid a visit to the Weraroa State harm on Wednesday, 9t!i ins!., and after a careful inspection had a long ro iference v/ilh Dr. Reakes, Director-*lOii 'ral of Agriculture, and discussed a number of questions bearing on the policy and best line of work to be adopted at the farm in the future. ORDINARY MEETING.

Tlie Board held a lengthy meeting the following day. Rabhit Nuisance: The best method of reducing the number of rabbits in various parts of the Dominion was discussed. A number of proposed amendments to the Rabbit Nuisance Act were considered, including some calculated to meet the special circumstances that Jiad arisen in some juris of the North Island, It vyag hoped that thr Covoi'U"ment might be üb' a to P-SS tli'.'Se during the coming session, NwjOilfi WpcJs : A number' of amendiil the schedules of the Act wero adopted With a view to embodying thein Itt & draft amending bill to be re-cou-fcfiiered at a future, meeting before be-

ing submitted to the Minister of Agriculture for his consideration. Corn Sacks: In View of the. action of the Government in securing next season's corn sacks for distribution at a uniform pric:\ the question was raised as to the desirability of doing the same with regard to wool-packs, but it was agreed to make further enquiries to ascertain whether it was necessary to adopt such a course. Ear-marking Stock: An enquiry about supplying farmers wilh standardised pliers for car-marking stock was deferred until a report was received from the committee appointed to consider the best method of ear-marking.

Agricultural Conforms: A number of resolutions forwarded by the Council of Agriculture dealing with rural education, hydro-electric power, depletion of native timbers, training of New Zealand soldiers in England in agricultural work, foot-rot in sheep, dry-rot in turnips, sheep-dipping mixtures, and | railway facilities in connection with agricultural shows were adopted.—The Board discussed most of these questions with the Director-General of Agriculture, when steps were taken in the direction of endeavouring to give effect to the wishes of the conference and to forward the others to the Ministers controlling the various matters. Whale Feed as Fertiliser: A letter was received drawing altention to the quantities of whale feed which occasionally occurred in the southern coastal waters, and suggesting th)t the Board should have it analysed, when, if satisfactory, arrangements might be made to obtain a quantity of it for the benefit of farmers arid local manufacturers. The Board had ascertained that Mr G. Nr. Thompson, of Dunedin, had already been making some research, and reported that "whale feed" has been very scarce for the past two or three years and that during the past nine months not a solitary had been seen in his locality, though they would probably turn up again in large quantities. Soya Bean (lake: A communication was received that Japan ha,? a large tonnage of soya bean meal, which couid be used as a manure, and that manure merchants stated that if the analysis of this was as good as reported they could take considerable quantities; but as Soya bean cake was also used as food for animals, it might he liable to a Customs duty of .''o per cent, if brought in under that heading, whereas if allowed in as a manure it would be dutyfree. As the matter was one of great importance to farmers, the Board was requested to communicate with the Comptroller of Customs on the subject.— Hie Director-General of Agriculture, Dr. Reakes, arranged to make further enquiries and to advise the Board at the next meeting regarding it.